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Education

Mathematics Teacher
Lake View High School
San Angelo Independent School District
San Angelo, TX, USA
saundra.paschal@saisd.orgIndustry: EducationField: Algebra and Precalculus Education

As a mathematics teacher at Lake View High School, Saundra Paschal spends her career working with America’s youth to develop their skill with numbers. As a specialist in algebra and pre-calculus, she develops comprehensive lesson plans designed to prepare students for standardized testing and provide them with mathematical skills that see use on a daily basis outside of the classroom. Too often, students are disillusioned with the role that mathematics plays in the world around us. As a result, these students tend to gravitate away from studying the field when given the choice of electives. Ms. Paschal believes this has led to an overall lessening of mathematics skills among high school and college students compared to years past. “Part of the challenge of being an educator in modern times is working to correct this problem and get students back on track,” she says.

The most satisfying aspect of Ms. Paschal’s career is seeing that students truly understand the concepts that she puts forth. This is common to many teachers, who feel a deep sense of gratification at seeing their students succeed. What sets her apart is her great passion for her work, as well as her exemplary work ethic. Such is her commitment that she was able to fulfill her calling even during one of the most difficult periods of her life. Following the deaths of both her parents within a period of one year, Ms. Paschal was asked by one of her former students to teach a calculus class. Rising above her personal grief, Ms. Paschal was able to pull through for her students and teach the class, showing remarkable resilience in the face of tragedy.

When asked about what advice she would pass on to future educators, Ms. Paschal recommends the following: “Be patient with yourself, students and administration. Be flexible and accept constructive criticism.” Though it may be tedious at times to deal with red tape and regulations, Ms. Paschal believes that the struggle is worth it to see her students gain valuable skills and achieve success. Continue reading →

Anita Merrill has 48 years of professional experience, spending more than three decades as Chief Medical Technologist of the University of Georgia. Over the course of her career, she has established herself as an expert in chemistry and laboratory diagnostics. On a daily basis, she is responsible for serving as a technician for clinical pathology, chemistry, hematology, parasitology, endocrinology, urinalysis and cytology for veterinary patients.

Ms. Merrill stands out among her peers due to her strong upbringing. She completed an internship at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, where she met many influential mentors along the way. She takes it as a point of pride that she commits 100 percent of herself into everything that she undertakes. As such, Ms. Merrill considers her greatest career achievement to be her development of the veterinary clinical pathology department for the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, when she was hired in 1979. She had to start her work manually, beginning with hematology and urinalysis, before adding chemistry and several endocrinology programs.

Looking back, Ms. Merrill attributes her success to dedication and a strong work ethic. She became involved in her profession because she has always been interested in science. When a friend suggested that she go into the medical technology field, she knew that she had found her calling.

Ms. Merrill received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from Barry University in 1966, and she became a registered medical technologist and an MTASCP within the following year. She is a member of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, the American Society for Clinical Pathology, and the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. In honor of her achievements, she was presented with a Staff Appreciation Award in 2007, and an Outstanding Research Award from the Tifton Sigma Xi Club in 1997.

Vice President of Academic Affairs
Mid-State Technical College
Plover, WI, USAhttp://www.annkrausehanson.infoIndustry: EducationField: Educational Leadership and Development

An educator for nearly 40 years, Dr. Ann M. Krause-Hanson has one desire: to provide everyone with opportunities to learn. A lifelong learner herself, she believes that her constant desire to learn has been a key element in her success. She is currently the vice president of academic affairs for Mid-State Technical College located in Marshfield, Wis., where she is charged with overseeing all programs, faculty, institutional research and the library. She also provides marketing services for the school and presides over all workforce development strategies to meet the needs of admissions each year.

Earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, with a minor in psychology, from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1974, Dr. Krause-Hanson began her career teaching mathematics at the K-12 level, a position she held for 16 years before transitioning into administrative roles. In 1990, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Master of Education in Professional Development. Nearly two decades later, she earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a certified instructional supervisor, has a lifetime certification in mathematics, as well as a certification in vocational mathematics.

The field of education is constantly changing and Dr. Krause-Hanson is always looking for new bits of knowledge. In order to stay current, she maintains affiliations with the Wisconsin Association for Career and Technical Education (WACTE), and the Association for Career and Technical Education. She is also the president of Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership. Additionally, she serves as a mentor and facilitator for The Chair Academy, an international academy that conducts leadership training for chairpersons, deans and vice presidents in higher education.

Dr. Krause-Hanson attributes much of her professional success to the mentorship and opportunities given by those around her. In 2012, she was given the President’s Award by WACTE, and in 2008, she was given the Region III Award of Merit by ACTE. As the years progress, she intends to continue working in a leadership position. Continue reading →

When Maureen M. Klees began in health education nearly three decades ago, she wanted a job that would allow her to be indoors and outdoors and spend time with her children. Unfortunately, some attitudes toward physical education were very discouraging. Teachers would say, “Who needs health classes?” As a health and physical education teacher at Mountain View High School, Ms. Klees believes the subjects should be main components of not only a student’s curriculum, but of their everyday life. “I think that physical education and health complement each other,” she says. The principles taught in these classes contribute to a lifestyle and habits that can improve one’s quality of life through adulthood.

Obesity in both children and adults has skyrocketed in the past 20 years. According to the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), “an estimated 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 years are obese.” This alarming statistic has made Ms. Klees’ job that much more significant as she is charged with teaching the impact of proper nutrition and exercise to her students. She stresses to seventh-, ninth- and 11th-graders that the effects of poor practices can be endless, and that practicing good nutrition habits while they are still young will preserve their physical fitness. With nearly 30 years of experience in education, she is sometimes tempted by the thought of retirement, but the youthfulness her job provides is reason enough to return to work each day. However many obstacles she is faced with, she can always get through them by turning to her faith in God. She also attributes her success to her willingness and ability to recognize opportunity, and the support she receives from her parents.

Ms. Klees earned a master’s degree in health science from East Stroudsburg University. She has kept herself motivated in her field through holding memberships with the Mountain View Education Association; The Pennsylvania State Education Association; the National Education Association; the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; and the American Public Health Association. She is also affiliated with the 20-20 Leadership Foundation, the American Red Cross, and the American Heart Association. An entertainer at heart, she has a passion for music and loves to sing. Some of her fondest memories include being a part of a traveling choir. Continue reading →

When Edward J. McQuail III graduated from Beaver High School in 1957, he didn’t know what career path was ahead of him. Enthralled with the history of Bluefield, W.Va., where he was born and raised, it only seemed fitting to enter into the field of education. Nevertheless, he started work as a salesman at his father’s company. Mr. McQuail always had his heart set on being in education, however, and was not going to settle for being a non-college-graduate. More than 10 years after his high school graduation, he entered Concord University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education in December 1970. He states that receiving his college degree was a dream come true, and he didn’t stop there; he also earned two master’s degrees: one in library science education from Marshall University, and the other in library sciences from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Through his passion to work with young people, Mr. McQuail became a library information specialist for the Tazewell County Public Schools and an educator for the McDowell County Public Schools. He enjoyed being there for the students and listening to any problems they wanted to share with him, whether personal or school-related. Now retired from these posts, he is dedicating more time to his hobby of collecting high school yearbooks, and hopes to expand his yearbook collection in the future. He has a constant desire to learn information about where he grew up and the people who live there. Since 2007, he has also served as the Bluefield High School historian and archivist, where he can put his skills to good use.

Mr. McQuail is a member of the West Virginia Secondary School Association and the American Library Association, the oldest and largest library association in the world. From 1983 to 2010, he also served as a volunteer at the Bluefield Regional Medical Center. Continue reading →

Following his adage, “Creating knowledge for society,” Allard van Riel pursued a career in academia, becoming the vice dean and director of the Institute for Management Research of the Radboud University Nijmegen, situated in the oldest city in the Netherlands. With an interest in improving and developing new services, Dr. van Riel obtained a chair position with the university and established a department based on such services. He progressed into the vice dean position and has been developing it for the past three years.

Dr. van Riel possesses expertise in a variety of subjects, including research innovation and teaching, and in his current position, he organizes and writes policies for the organization of human resources, teaches marketing and solicits for external funding. He also oversees 140 researchers. Dr. van Riel’s main goal is to bring together experts from different disciplines to address issues of high societal relevance. He is currently gathering doctors and individuals from different public administrations to devise new business models together that are much more efficient and effective. “I am trying to make steps forward in this area,” he says.

Dr. van Riel first earned a master’s degree in philosophy knowledge theory at the University of Amsterdam, and then in 2003, he graduated from Maastricht University with a Ph.D. in Service Innovation. The author of 25 publications, he maintains affiliation with the Academy of Management, a professional organization dedicated to the advancement of management and administration. He also sponsors small entrepreneurs in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, located in West Africa. Dr. van Riel attributes his success to his hard work and watching for opportunities. As the years progress, he intends to assist in the future development of the Institute for Management Research. He also aspires to become well-known for his focus on social management studies and social innovation services. Continue reading →

As a professor and associate chair of radiation oncology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Christopher Lange prides himself on his ability to find new ways to approach problems and discover innovative solutions. At the start of his career, Dr. Lange was interested in the application of the physical ways of thinking and approaches to biological problems. Since many of these problems had to do with growth and genetics, with cancer being the quintessential example of abnormal growth, this heavily influenced his movement into oncology.

Prior to taking up his post with SUNY Downstate, Dr. Lange received extensive training from some of the most prestigious schools in the world, including Stuyvesant High School in New York, MIT and Oxford University. From there, he completed his doctoral studies under Laszlo Lajtha, who was his professor at Oxford. Dr. Lajtha would later became the founding director of the Patterson Laboratories in The Christie Hospital and the Holt Radium Institute in Manchester, where the Medical Research Council gave him the omission and the funding to make the institution the premier cancer research facility in all of Europe. To this day, Dr. Lange feels that having worked with Dr. Lajtha was a huge advantage that continues to set him apart from his peers.

Dr. Lange is motivated by studying problems in-depth, essentially pulling something apart and putting it back together again so that he can understand how it works. He considers the moment of insight, when the solution to the problem is revealed at last, to be the most fulfilling element of his career. Dr. Lange considers his most prominent challenge to be the acquisition of funding for research. While SUNY Downstate employs approximately 30 student volunteers to perform clinical tests and laboratory work, automation is still required to process the statistical data from these tests in order to discern meaningful results. This automation would increase Dr. Lange’s output by at least tenfold, if not by significantly more. Continue reading →

An educator for more than three decades, Carla L. Hill is a strong advocate for implementing information technology in student curriculum. For the past seven years, she has served as a teaching associate for Marist College, located in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where she utilizes and implements technology as a methodology of enhanced value for the development of educational tools for students. She applies her expertise in statistics when creating curriculum for students in statistical mathematical courses.

Ms. Hill earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Lenoir-Rhyne University and a Master of Arts in Computer Science from Union College. Always searching for more to learn, she is now pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, with a concentration in educational technology, from the University of Phoenix. As a teaching associate, she also conducts evaluations in all phases of usage of information technology in concurrent implementation for overall evaluation of quality assurance standards for meeting criteria. She plans to teach a new liberal arts course in the future.

To keep updated in the field of education, Ms. Hill maintains affiliation with the Mathematical Association of America and the International Society for Technical Education. She has also done public speaking related to education. To recognize her dedication, she was given a special services award for working with students with learning disabilities in 2005, 2008 and 2010. She supports Girl Scouts of the USA and the American Red Cross, and volunteers with her church, St. John’s Lutheran Church. She attributes her success to her open-mindedness and love for working with young people. She is certified in CPR and first aid and enjoys teaching these classes in her free time, in addition to spending time with her three grandchildren (to date): Alexia, Charlie and Becca. Continue reading →

“I am always looking for a better way to share information with students, a better way to teach,” says Suzanne Gorman Messina, who has served as an educator for the past three decades. This philosophy, along with her patience, drive and zeal for the profession has made her successful. “I want everyone to feel good about what they are learning.” For the last 20 years, Ms. Gorman Messina has been a valuable asset to the Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services, where she teaches students who have transferred from other districts because they need more one-on-one instruction or need to work in smaller groups. It is in this vocational alternative school environment where she is able to make them feel comfortable, thus giving them a better chance to learn.

In addition to her stint as a business teacher, Ms. Gorman Messina serves as a team leader for business education programs for Broome-Tioga County BOCES Alternative Sites. On a daily basis, she is charged with teaching employability and professional skills to ninth- and 10th-grade students, preparing them for a successful entry into the world of work. She also oversees the career cluster program, career and financial management, career skills, and job preparation and procedures. Although her primary concern is seeing her students thrive, she states, “education isn’t just about teaching students, it’s about helping other teachers learn what we can use to relate more to the technology-oriented student in today’s society.”

Ms. Gorman Messina doesn’t plan to stop learning and believes that 85 percent of what is taught to the learner is retained by the instructor. A graduate of The Citadel School of Education with a Master of Education in Counselor Education, she also holds certification in guidance counseling and business education. She is a former member of the Broome County Legislature, and is the secretary of the Broome County Democratic Executive Committee, and the vice president of the Broome County Ladies’ Ancient Order of Hibernians. She also serves as a Broome County Medical Reserve Corps volunteer.

In addition to her time spent educating the next generation, she has been active in the Democratic Party for more than 20 years and is very involved within her community. As an educator for 33 years and a former Broome County legislator, she credits her successful career to the support she received from her husband, her parents, and in particular, to the inspiration she receives from her mother, a lifelong politician. In the coming years, she aims to experience continued growth within the employability program and remain active with the local government. Continue reading →

At almost 71 years of age, Gloria Giersch Vaughn has not slowed down one bit since officially retiring just a short time ago. Formerly a teacher of blind and visually impaired students, she is now a private consultant to this same specialized population, working to improve educational standards and create more learning and job opportunities. When she first became a teacher, Mrs. Vaughn was enthralled by the capacity of students with multiple disabilities to grasp subjects with the same ease as nondisabled students. She marveled at the children’s enthusiasm and resolve not to be inhibited by their handicaps — a fervor which she similarly exhibited as their educator and mentor.

Before establishing Vaughn Consultants, Mrs. Vaughn wrote a number of children’s stories, including “The Flannel Board Storybook,” which she co-authored and published with Frances S. Taylor in 1986. Additionally, she compiled grants to acquire new technology that would enhance the lessons she delivered in the classroom to impaired students as well as the teachers who would prepare them for the future. Throughout the years, she received many service awards, though none were as rewarding as witnessing the impact she made on each child’s life. Her involvement with the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired has helped her to gain many contacts within the industry who share her passion for teaching and making a difference.

Mrs. Vaughn received a Bachelor of Science in Music and Education in 1962 from Texas Wesleyan University; a Master of Science in Psychology from Vanderbilt University in 1975; and an Educational Specialist degree in childhood development also from Vanderbilt University in 1978. She is certified as a teacher of the visually impaired by the University of Texas, as well as a member of the Surrey Association for Visual Impairment and the Council for Exceptional Children.